Students ready to shine at inaugural arts festival in Bossier

Bossier students with cognitive and physical challenges collaborate on mural project for the i3 Art Expo. The ThisAbility Walk mural will be on display May 3-5 at Bossier Civic Center.
Tiana Kennell/The Times

Hannah Spence, a Talented Arts Instructor at Bossier Schools, holding a few of her students' photography submissions.(Photo: Courtesy of Bossier Schools)

The i3 Art Expo will debut May 3-5 at the Bossier Civic Center featuring creative works from the district’s K-12 students.

The expo is open to the public. Community members will have the opportunity to see the talent of parish children and youth, said Kelley Kelly, director of the i3 Art Expo and secretary to Assistant Superintendent Nichole Bourgeois.

“This is open to anybody and especially to families, even if they don’t have children in our system," Kelly said.

"We’re celebrating our kids," Kelly said. "They’re going to be our community leaders. And (the community) is going to be amazed — and inspired themselves — by the things our children are able to do."

Among the art featured in the i3 Expo will be the work of students in the Talented Arts Program and those with cognitive and physical disabilities. Art media will include visual and literary art, vocal and musical performances, film making and animation.

The expo will demonstrate how teachers and students are applying S.T.E.A.M. in the classroom during the school year, a reference to science, technology, engineering, art and math into education.

“It’s important to showcase that we’re incorporating art into every aspect of the curriculum," Kelly said. "We feel like by incorporating that the children are able to learn on a different level, not just the typical textbook, but involving art.”

Three designated rooms in the Bossier Civic Center will further reflect the inspiration, imagination and innovation theme.

The "imagination" room will have art booths designed by the schools and the competing artworks. There will be artist demonstrations, and guests may participate in hands-on activities.

The "inspiration" room will be the home of the student live performance showcase and music competition.

And the "innovation" room will highlight how S.T.E.A.M. works by engaging students in activities and challenges.

The i3 Art Expo is an extension of the annual Bossier Student Showcase that previously was held at the Louisiana Boardwalk. The event focused on students' performance arts, but Bossier Schools' Superintendent Scott Smith and other leaders decided to expand the idea by shining a spotlight on all of the students' talents, including performing and literary arts.

Bossier Parish Schools wasn't involved in the ArtBreak Student Arts Festival in Caddo Parish in April, as it was for many years before. Bossier Schools have "grown significantly in size the last several years," Kelly said, and the i3 Art Expo will allow the school board to further highlight Bossier students' creativity.

"By having our own event, it will enable us to showcase more of our students and give more of them the opportunity to participate," she said.

i3 Art Expo highlights

Second-grade field trip. On May 3 and 4, second-grade students in Bossier Parish will be bused to the expo to explore. Students will see an original theater production crafted by students in the Talented Arts Program, called "How Rock, Paper and Scissor Went Down in History." The play is a part of the "Reading Rocks" program, in partnership with the Bossier Parish Library, and will encourage summer reading.

ThisAbility Walk. Students with cognitive and physical challenges have designed murals that will stretch several hundred yards through the exterior and interior of the Bossier Civic Center. The exhibition was spearheaded by Steve Porter, a Talented Arts Program instructor.

Bossier Schools Showcase. The fourth annual talent show will feature individual and group performances. It will include six hours of live acts — singing, acting, cheering, instrumental music and more.

Literary stage. Published authors and artists from Bossier Schools' staff will perform readings and sign books, and there will be additional presentations.

Student Award Ceremony. Winning student art pieces from various competition categories will be announced at 4 p.m. May 5.

The Benton High School TAP and Jazz Band Ensemble. Students from the Talented Arts Program and jazz band will perform a set after recently returning from playing at the Apollo Theater in New York.

Honors Choir. The Bossier Honors Choir will present the grand finale performance to close out the inaugural i3 Art Expo on Saturday.

Experience a black light chalk artist. BPSB Talented Arts Instructor Al Bohl will paint three different large landscapes using pastel chalk, black light and music. This mystical live presentation is one not to miss!